Sierra Leone Launches Bold Push to Fix Death Reporting Gaps

By Saidu Kargbo

Freetown, 2^nd October 2025–Sierra Leone is taking a decisive step to fix one of its most persistent public health blind spots: the chronic underreporting of deaths. In a landmark move, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), and other key agencies to launch a national sub-committee aimed at transforming how deaths are recorded and reported across the country.

The initiative, unveiled at the NCRA headquarters on King Harman Road, seeks to close long-standing data gaps that have hampered health planning, emergency response, and accountability in tackling Sierra Leone’s mortality burden.

“For years, death registration has been informal, incomplete, and in many cases, nonexistent,” said Emmanuella K. Anderson, Principal Health/Universal Health Coverage Coordinator at the Ministry of Health. “Without accurate data, we’re flying blind when it comes to understanding the true health challenges facing our communities.”

The sub-committee will focus on three core goals: Improving the accuracy and completeness of death reporting nationwide, enhancing the use of mortality data for public health planning and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to ensure accountability and transparency

Dr. Brima Osaio-Kamara, Director of Primary Healthcare, highlighted the urgency of the reform. “We’re getting maternal death reports, but under-five deaths in communities remain largely invisible. This process will help us capture those figures and use them to make informed decisions.”

The problem is especially acute in rural areas, where many deaths occur at home and go unreported due to lack of awareness and trained personnel. WHO Country Representative Dr. George Ameh called the initiative “a strategic leap forward,” noting that improved mortality data will support Sierra Leone’s national planning and global commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals.

“No death should go unregistered, unreported, or misunderstood,” Dr. Ameh emphasized.

To ensure nationwide coverage, NCRA Director General Mohamed M. Massaquoi announced plans for community engagement campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of death registration. “We will continue to engage our people,” he said, “because they have a crucial role to play in registering their deceased relatives and understanding the causes of death.”